Friday, January 13, 2012

Vintage photographs of snow in Toronto

You could be forgiven if you had almost forgotten what Toronto looks like covered in snow until waking up this morning to see a fresh dusting
laid across the city. Although not a major snowfall event, it seems
like winter was due 'round these parts, so more than a few people will
likely welcome the precipitation despite the inconveniences that come
along with it. I'd count myself among this group, not the least of which
because I can skip making a trip into the office if I'm not up for a
messy commute.
Even if the last couple seasons haven't served up a whole lot of
winter precipitation, it's probably fair to say that the experience of
dealing with snow is still somehow crucial to understanding what life is
like in Toronto. From the massive storms of 1999 and 1944 to navigating slippery streets to the simple act of shovelling, snow is hardwired into the city's historical consciousness.
For proof of this, I've put together a collection of vintage
photographs of snow and snowstorms in Toronto. I intentionally kept the
majority of these photos out of my look back at various winter activities in this city, believing that each deserved its own entry in our ongoing history of Toronto in photos.
For those complaining about today's accumulation, some of the shots
below might provide some comforting perspective on how much worse it can
be. PHOTOS
Storm damage on Brock Street, 1896
Cherry Street, 1908
Old City Hall encased in frost, 1910Broadview near Riverdale Park, 1917
Manning and Ulster, 1920
Snowy Queen Street, 1922
Snowy Queen Street, 1924
Snow plough operated by the TTC, 1924
Gerrard Street, 1924
Winter pastoral in High Park, 1932
College and St. George snow removal, 1936
Barton Avenue snow removal, 1936
Snow blower, 1940s
Snow blower, 1943
The great snow storm of 1944
The city shut down, 1944
Yonge looking north at Richmond, 1944
Yonge looking north at Adelaide, 1944
Buried, 1944
George Street north to Adelaide, 1944
Good luck digging out, 1944
The OPP helping out on the QEW, 1960
Totally safe driving conditions, 1960Shovelling out, 1961
More shovelling, 1961
Waiting for the bus, 1961
Near King and John streets, 1961
Near King and John streets, 1961
Snow removal, 1965
Snow removal, 1965
Snow at Old Mill Station, 1965